History and Background
Sister Pat's Kids Camp is an outreach ministry of St. Helen’s Church in Westfield, NJ that provides a weeklong camping program for children afflicted with cancer and other related blood disorders. In 1985, Leo Forrest, along with St. Helen’s parishioner Paulette Cicero, founded the camp in honor of Sister Patricia Daly's dedication to children. Sr. Pat was the Director of Religious Education at St. Helen’s during the 1970’s. Camp continues today in memory of both Leo and Sr. Pat and is still largely sponsored by the extended community of Saint Helen's Church.
The camp is open to children between the ages of six and fourteen, of all races and religious affiliations, and is completely free to all campers.
Sister Pat's Kids Camp, as part of The Mid-Hudson Valley Camps, is an Associate Member of the American Camping Association.
“Sister Pat’s Kids Camp has helped me to build confidence and allowed me to try so many things that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to while at the hospital”